Targeted protective clothing patch

ABSTRACT

A protective clothing patch for cushioning an at risk body part of a person wearing clothing. The protective clothing patch comprises a cushion member being a flexible cushioned member having a flat outer surface contact area and an parabolic shaped outer sheath. This outer sheath gives the patch its unique appearance as a modified football shape. The sheath covers high impact cushioning, in a parabolic form, which aids in its ability to conform to the natural contour of the at risk body part of the elbows, shins, shoulders, knees or buttocks. The protective clothing patch is permanently adhered to clothing of a person in the area desired to be protected from high impact. When the person comes into contact with the floor or ground the cushion member will better comfort the knees, elbows or buttocks.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The instant invention relates generally to protective, cushioned,iron-on patches for articles of clothing; and, more specifically itrelates to a protective clothing patch for the elbows, knees, shins,shoulder, buttocks, or the like.

[0002] Children need protection while running, rollerblading,skateboarding, riding bikes and scooters or when just plain playing and“rough-housing”. Gardeners often kneel or sit for long periods of timewhich can be painful on the knees or buttocks. Recreational sportsenthusiasts of all ages are subject to scrapes and abrasions and are inneed of proper protection for the vulnerable body parts. Many workmenalso need protection for their knees while performing their jobs.Cushioned protection minimizes impact to the knees and bones.

[0003] The subject invention is a cushioned, iron-on clothing patch forthe vulnerable body parts made with a more functional design. The tough,durable and feather-like, practical design, and targeted applicationassure that clothing remains versatile enough to wear for normaleveryday use as well as for effective targeted protection.

[0004] Their are many existing pads and protective clothing to protectthe knee area. U.S. Pat. No. 2,572,360, a pre-formed injury padconsisting of a flexible semi-cylindrical body section having a flexiblequadrispherical end section. An inelastic fabric facing is attached onlyto the entire outer surface of the semi-cylindrical body section.

[0005] Shelby, James E. Illustrates a Knee Pad Attachment in U.S. Pat.No. 4,723,322 the knee pad is for use on a supporting surface, and notattached to a person's knee, to provide support and cushioning to aperson's knee. The pad has a lower region having a bottom for contactingthe supporting surface, and a contoured upper region for contacting thefront portion of the person's knee. The bottom has a frictional surfaceto resist sliding with respect to the supporting surface. Variousproperties of the upper region, relating to its contours and fittingwith respect to the knee, are disclosed, particularly a concavity in thetop of the pad. The concavity may be vacant. The top of the concavitymay adjoin the top of the pad. The concavity may have a secondary innerconcavity perimeter. The pad may have a plurality of outer perimeters,defining decreasing areas within the perimeters, from bottom to top ofthe pad.

[0006] The patent of Denman, Robert Z., a garment especially adapted forprotecting the knees while gardening is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No.4,831,666 A garment or pant specifically adapted for providingprotection to a person's knees in a kneeling position while performinggardening or like chores, is disclosed. The garment has a pair of legs,and a pocket affixed to the exterior of each leg. A padded cushioningmember is substantially fixedly held in each pocket. The pockets areaffixed to the legs in such positions that the pockets and thecushioning member register in the appropriate positions, to provide acushioning and insulating barrier between the wearer's knees and theground when the wearer is in kneeling position.

[0007] Ritter, William H, has disclosed a Knee Protector in U.S. Pat.No. 4,893,355 A knee protector covers the front of the knee, and extendsrearwardly on both sides to protect against mechanical damage to theknee. The protector has foamed padding towards the leg for both comfortand mechanical protection, and a somewhat rigid outer shell to providestrength. For comfort as the leg is flexed, the front of the kneeprotector has a line about which the rigid shell can move, so that twosections of the shell are articulated, allowing movement in alldirections. One side of the knee protector can be shortened to allow theuse of a knee splint in conjunction with the knee protector.

[0008] Grimm, Thomas M., has disclosed a Knee Pad in U.S. Pat. No.5,309,570 A knee pad includes a base member which, when unassembled, isplanar. A top member is operatively connected to the base member. In apreferred embodiment, the top member is also, when unassembled, planar.The base member has first and second points of attachment and; whenunassembled, are at a first distance from each other. The top member hasfirst and second points of attachment which, when unassembled, are alsoa first distance from each other. Provided are means for securing thetop member to the base member at the points of attachment wherein, whenassembled, the first and second points of attachment of the base memberare at a second distance from each other. The second distance is lessthan the first distance wherein the base member forms a cupped region.Also provided is a means for attaching the base and top members to auser's knee.

[0009] Zeller, Marvin invented the Detachable Knee Pad as shown in U.S.Pat. No. Des. 336,548. This is an ornamental design for a detachableknee pad, as shown and described.

[0010] The above-referenced prior art does not disclose any protectiveclothing pad in the form of a patch that can be adhered to a specifictarget area. There is a need for a permanent clothing protectiveclothing patch that provides cushioning protection which can beprecisely placed by the user.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0011] A primary object of the present invention is to provide aprotective clothing patch that will overcome the shortcomings of theprior art by providing a protective clothing patch that can beeffectively used on elbows, knees, shins, shoulder, buttocks, or thelike because of its targeted exact and precise placement. The protectiveclothing patch of the present invention is a feather-light cushionedpatch for protection of the elbows, knees, shins, shoulders, buttocks orthe like. The protective clothing patch has impact absorption propertiestargeted for at risk body parts.

[0012] The protective clothing patch provided is adhered by the user tothe area of clothing which covers an area of high risk for impact withthe ground or hard objects. The inner impact area is a cushion member ofhigh-impact absorption material comprised of open cell polymer,parabolic in shape to contour to the shape of knees, elbows, shins,shoulder or buttocks. The outer sheath extends beyond the impactabsorbing material by one inch to one and one-half inches ensuring amore than adequate tie-down surface for adhering to the clothing.

[0013] The ability to have exact placement of the patch onto the area ofhigh risk for impact is very important. Many of the existing knee padsand protective gear do not allow targeted permanent placement. When aworkman, child or gardener is required to carry around a temporary orremovable pad or gear they tend to forget to use it or fail to use it asneeded. Clothing that has preattached padding in a particular locationdoes not give adequate protection as each individual is builtdifferently. The padding may not necessarily line up with the elbow,knee, shin, shoulder or buttocks of each person in exactly the same way.The present invention due to its ability to be ironed on the exacttarget area determined by the user, provides a custom-made article ofclothing with precision protection for the user's at risk body part.

[0014] The workers who use protective patches on an every day basis willtend to decrease injuries to target areas and therefore decrease sickdays, injuries, workers compensation claims and accumulative long termdamage which could lead to disability over the long term. The presentinvention provides an invaluable tool to employers. The workers willhave a permanent protective patch on their clothing that protects thetarget areas.

[0015] Another object is to provide a protective clothing patch having awide flat contact surface for a more even weight distribution toincrease protection to a body part of a person. When kneeling on thefloor or ground, or when falling during a sporting event, or sittingwhile gardening or working each target area is protected by thecushioned pad.

[0016] An additional object is to provide a protective clothing patchwith adhesive to attach, in a target area, on a pair of pants, a shirt,sweatshirt, or the like clothing. An additional object is to provide theconvenience of a protective clothing patch with adhesive to iron ontoany area of the desired article of clothing (pants, shirt, jacket oruniform).

[0017] A further object is to provide a protective clothing patch thatis simple and easy to use.

[0018] A still further object is to provide a protective clothing patchthat is economical in cost to manufacture.

[0019] Further objects of the invention will appear as the descriptionproceeds.

[0020] To the accomplishment of the above and related objects, thisinvention may be embodied in the form illustrated in the accompanyingdrawings, attention being called to the fact, however, that the drawingsare illustrative only, and that changes may be made in the specificconstruction illustrated and described within the scope of the appendedclaims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIGURES

[0021] Various other objects, features and attendant advantages of thepresent invention will become more fully appreciated as the same becomesbetter understood when considered in conjunction with the accompanyingdrawings, in which like reference characters designate the same orsimilar parts throughout the several views, and wherein;

[0022]FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the protective clothing patch fromthe underside showing the cushion member as attached to the outersheath;

[0023]FIG. 2 is a cross sectional longitudinal view a1 to a2 of FIG. 1of protective clothing patch, shown on a standing person wearing pants;

[0024]FIG. 3 is a view of the protective clothing patch shown beingironed onto a layer of clothing;

[0025]FIG. 4 the protective clothing patch shown on a person's elbow,shoulder and knees;

[0026]FIG. 5 the protective clothing patch shown on a person's buttocks,knee and elbows.

[0027] Similar reference characters denote corresponding featuresconsistently throughout the attached drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0028] Turning now descriptively to the drawings, in which similarreference characters denote similar elements throughout the severalviews, FIGS. 1 and 2 illustrates a protective clothing patch 10 forcushioning a knee, elbow, shin, shoulder or buttocks of a person wearinga shirt or pair of pants. The protective clothing patch 10 comprises acushion member 12 being a high impact material of a conical parabolicshape. An outer sheath (14) is also a conical parabolic shape andrelatively larger than the cushion member (12). A permanent adhesive isapplied between the upperside of the cushion member (12) and theunderside of the outer sheath (14) at all contact points so they arepermanently joined prior to use. A heat activated adhesive (16) isapplied to the underside of the cushion member (12) and outer sheath(14) for attaching the protective clothing patch (10) to an article ofclothing.

[0029] The cushion member 12 is made from a closed-cell polymer, whichis extremely lightweight, having a high shock absorption capacity,having elastic rebound with shape retention, and a tough exterior beingnon-permeable to water and oil. The adhesive (16) will be activated byheat such as an iron so that the protective clothing patch ispermanently attached to the article of clothing in a target areaselected by the user.

[0030]FIGS. 2 and 3 illustrate how to set each protective clothing patch10 in the right place on the article of clothing. The underside of theouter sheath (12) having the heat activated adhesive (16) is placedagainst the article of clothing and positioned to cover a person's kneecap, elbow, shin, shoulder or buttocks. A heating device such as an ironis placed against the top side of the outer sheath (12) to activate theheat activated adhesive. The iron is removed and the protective clothingpatch (10) is permanently in place. As the knee starts to bend, theroundness of the person's own knee cap will align the protectiveclothing patch 10, so that when the knee is fully bent the protectiveclothing patch 10 is in exactly the right place.

[0031]FIGS. 4 and 5 illustrate that the protective clothing patch (10)can be placed on the shins, elbows, buttocks or even the shoulder of auser. A sports enthusiast can select any target area to apply theprotective clothing patch. The protective clothing patch is shown on thearticle of clothing and positioned over the buttocks of a person. Thisinsures that, as the person bends to sit, the roundness of the person'sbuttocks will align the protective clothing patch 10, so that when thebuttocks is fully bent the protective clothing patch is exactly in theright place. The protective clothing patch is also shown placed on thearticle of clothing and positioned over the elbow of a person. Thisinsures that, as the person bends the elbow, the roundness of the elbowwill align the protective clothing patch 10, so that when the elbow isfully bent the protective clothing patch is exactly in the right place.This is true for any body part that the patch protects.

[0032] While certain novel features of this invention have been shownand described are pointed out in the annexed claims, it is not intendedto be limited to the details above, since it will be understood thatvarious omissions, modifications, substitutions and changes in the formsand details of the device illustrated and in its operation can be madeby those skilled in the art without departing in any way from the spiritof the present invention. Without further analysis, the foregoing willso fully reveal the gist of the present invention that others can, byapplying current knowledge, readily adapt it for various applicationswithout omitting features that, from the standpoint of prior art, fairlyconstitute essential characteristics of the generic or specific aspectsof this invention.

What is claimed is 1.) A protective clothing patch is provided thattargets areas of high impact such as elbows, shoulders, knees, shins,buttocks of a worker, child at play, gardener and the like comprising anouter sheath having an upper surface and an under surface; a closed cellpolymer cushion member relatively smaller in size than said outer sheathhaving an upper surface and an under surface; an adhesive on the uppersurface of the cushion member that permanently attaches the uppersurface of the cushion member to the under surface of the outer sheath;a heat activated adhesive applied to the under surface of the cushionmember and on the under surface of the outer sheath, which is not incontact with the cushion member; wherein heat is applied to the uppersurface of the outer sheath to activate the heat activated adhesive topermanently adhere the protective clothing patch to an article ofclothing at a predetermined target area: 2.) A protective clothing patchas claimed in claim 1 further comprising an outer sheath that isparabolic in shape. 3.) A protective clothing patch as claimed in claim1 further comprising a cushion member that is parabolic in shape. 4.) Aprotective clothing patch as claimed in claim 1 wherein the protectiveclothing patch can be adhered to clothing in an area to protect theelbows, knees, shoulders, buttocks or shins. 5.) A protective clothingpatch that targets high impact areas of a user's body.